It might have been preferable to secure a more comfortable win against such a weak side, but the Reds’ strong first half proved enough to earn a 2–1 victory over Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday.
Between long awaited goal contributions for some players and underwhelming displays for others, how did Liverpool's players rate on an individual level?
Starting XI:
Alisson Becker: 7/10- A solid outing, making three saves against a Wolves side that the Brazilian likely did not expect to test him often. He perhaps could have been stronger with his initial punch on the ball that led to Wolves’ rebound goal, but there was little he could have done to prevent the finish itself.
Virgil van Dijk: 7/10- He won’t have been pleased to see another clean sheet slip away, but it was an assured performance overall from van Dijk. A particularly touching moment came before kickoff, when he walked out alongside Diogo Jota’s children as a matchday mascot.
Ibrahima Konaté: 6/10- His inconsistency is becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate. He was completely overpowered on Wolves’ corner that led to their lone goal of the contest. If he can’t begin to string together multiple strong performances, it will soon become clear that both he and the club may need to move on.
Milos Kerkez: 7.5/10: One of the most forward-thinking performances Kerkez has delivered in a Liverpool shirt. He didn’t register a goal or assist, but completed over 95% of his passes, won the joint-most tackles on the team, and consistently drove forward with energy and purpose. It was a display that served as a timely reminder of why Liverpool invested in him for his attacking qualities.
Jeremie Frimpong: 8/10- Liverpool’s fullbacks were among the standout performers on Saturday. After his deflected cross led to a goal against Spurs, he claimed an official assist against Wolves, while winning all four of his ground duels and completing both of his attempted dribbles in a full 90-minute display. It was highly encouraging to see this level of play immediately after returning from injury.
Curtis Jones: 7/10- He may not have stood out on the eye test, but he completed over 100 accurate passes while contributing solid defensive work, including three tackles and 15 recoveries. Another steady, reliable performance from the Scouser.
Alexis Mac Allister: 6.5/10- Another subdued outing for Mac Allister in a match many expected to serve as a breakout performance against weaker opposition. Both fans and club remain in wait of the No. 10 rediscovering the dazzling form he showed last season.
Ryan Gravenberch: 8/10- I backed Gravy to get himself back into the G/A column heading into the match, and he responded in style, scoring his fourth goal of the season with a beautifully placed finish in the 41st minute. He also showcased his well-regarded defensive aptitude, winning 100% of his attempted tackles. A complete performance from the Dutchman.
Federico Chiesa: 6.5/10- It was fun to see the fan favorite start, but Slot may be justified in managing his minutes cautiously, as the Italian was the quietest and weakest link in the front three. Perhaps the super-sub role suits him best after all.
Florian Wirtz: 9/10- Absolutely ran the show in a Man of the Match performance. He finally scored his first Liverpool goal with aplomb on a lovely team move and very nearly added an assist as Ekitike struck the post off an exquisite pass from him. He had the ball on a string with seven (!) dribbles and even contributed defensively, winning 100% of his tackles. His best performance yet—and there’s clearly more to come.
Hugo Ekitike: 8/10- His goal-scoring run may have ended, but the G/A streak continues as Eki unselfishly set up Wirtz with an extremely clever pass. His on-ball skills as a striker keep improving match after match, and his link-up play with Flo was a joy to watch. He’s increasingly looking like one of the Premier League’s best summer signings.
Substitutes:
Conor Bradley: 7.5/10- Brought on for Chiesa in the 62nd minute. Likely tasked with preserving the lead, he was relatively quiet going forward as he returned from injury, but made a game-saving tackle in the 87th minute to deny Wolves an equalizer. Delivering the most crucial defensive moment of the match easily justifies such a high rating.
Cody Gakpo: N/A- Too little time on the pitch to give Cody a full rating after coming on in the 86th minute. He fired off a decent shot, and it was encouraging to see him moving well after missing time with a knock.
Trey Nyoni: N/A- Not enough minutes to rate the 18 year-old after entering in the 93rd.